Real Radio to become Heart

[overthewater]

Alas the battle was lost at the end of last week, when Global sold on most of the stations it acquired back in 2012. All Real Radio stations will become Heart with certain station which have been sold onto Communicorp will also take Heart's network programming and brand name, which will be used under contract.

Its a very sad day, as the most awful radio station expands. Real radio has been following the same format as Heart and its listeners are down.

http://radiotoday.co.uk/2014/02/communicorp-buys-8-global-radio-stations/

Global Radio is selling eight radio stations in response to a ruling by the Competition Commission after buying GMG Radio in June 2012.

The stations being sold are Smooth Radio North West, North East and East Midlands, along with Capital South Wales, Real Radio North Wales, Capital Scotland, Real Radio Yorkshire and Real XS Manchester.

The single buyer for all stations is Dublin based Communicorp, owner of Today FM, Spin and Newstalk for a reported £35m. Communicorp is wholly owned by Denis O’Brien, subject to regulatory approval.

And whilst the stations will operate under new owners and sell local airtime, national sales and non-peak programming will still be provided by Global Radio under a franchise agreement.

All existing Real Radio stations will become Heart, as expected, and the former Marcher stations, currently Heart, will become Capital.

Smooth Radio will expand to Gold’s frequencies on AM across the UK except in London, East Midlands and Manchester.

Global Radio originally bought the assets of GMG Radio in June 2012 but has been through the Office of Fair Trading and the Competition Commission before being told to sell stations in seven areas of the UK which would have caused a Substantial Lessening of Competition.

Stephen Miron, Global’s Group CEO said: “We are delighted to have agreed this deal with Communicorp so quickly. Most importantly the conclusion of this deal solidifies Global’s position as the number one commercial radio company in the UK, and enables our brands to continue to grow, extending their reach into all parts of the UK, making Global’s offering truly national. The future launch of Heart in five new regions, Smooth in many new regions and a new Capital in North Wales is particularly exciting and enables us to continue our strategy of ‘national brands delivered locally.’ This is great news for listeners and advertisers/”

Gervaise Slowey, Communicorp’s Chief Executive commented: “We are delighted to add these popular radio stations to the Group’s stable. It’s clear that the UK advertising market is buoyant, and this move will make us the 4th largest commercial radio group in the UK from a standing start. The brand licence agreement that we have in place with Global for Heart, Capital and Smooth will allow us to combine the clout of a national brand with local presence, and we feel this model will provide the best of both worlds to our listeners and our customers.”

Further details:
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/feb/06/denis-o-brien-globalradio

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/...ers-UK-radio-market-with-35m-Global-deal.html

 

[Kite159]

More locally named stations lost in the renaming to Heart

 

[Geezertronic]

In Birmingham, we lost the iconic BRMB name to Free Radio, what a crappy name that is. We already have a Heart FM and we already lost Galaxy to the Global Radio owned Capital brand

 

[Qwerty133]

Its a very sad day, as the most awful radio station expands.

guessing you've never had to listen to c(r)apital if you think that.

 

[Welshman]

I must admit that while waiting most anxiously at my local hospital's cardiac ward for an examination recently, I was not amused to find the speakers were broadcasting "Heart F.M." in the background!:roll:

 

[Blindtraveler]

I must admit that while waiting most anxiously at my local hospital's cardiac ward for an examination recently, I was not amused to find the speakers were broadcasting "Heart F.M." in the background!:roll:

quite understandable and hope your ok now?

I have to say, as a volunteer on a Communitty Radio Station I think that with radio now mainly being controlled by accountants the future of Truly Local broadcast is in the hands of stations like ourselves as the trend of networking the major brands grows. I cant say Im sorry to see the end of real, Heart is just far fresher and will be a success up here. agree though that some may not like it.
Www.eastcoastfm.co.uk↲

 

[SS4]

In Birmingham, we lost the iconic BRMB name to Free Radio, what a crappy name that is. We already have a Heart FM and we already lost Galaxy to the Global Radio owned Capital brand

Similarly we lost 1152 Xtra AM to Capital

I wonder if they'll change the musical output to the same 5 songs as ever

 

[Welshman]

quite understandable and hope your ok now?

Thank you very much for your concern.

I had major heart surgery at the beginning of the New Year, and am making a good but slow recovery. It will be about three months until I'm back to normal [or whatever passes as "normal" for me!].

But I'm touched by your query.

 

[GB]

Heart's great...if you like to listen to the same two/three year old chart rubbish that plays day in day out.

 

[overthewater]

It seems Irish CC are now looking into the deal, but since none of new stations are in Eire, its does seem Heart will be broadcasting to the real radio areas by May.

 

[NorthernSpirit]

Whatever style Real Radio is broadcasting at the moment, its the style that is the same of Heart = unlistenable. Even a couple of my mates have noticed on how bad its got and have recently retuned to the same stations as myself.

I've given up with any Global Media radio station and instead will listen to alternative radio stations such as Doncaster's 102.6 Sine FM, Halifax's 96.7 Phoenix FM, Spalding's 107.5 Tulip Radio or Portsmouth's 93.7 Express FM.

When Galaxy 105 was in its final days back in 2010, it was basically a relay of London's 95.8 Capital FM in all but name. I retuned in '07 to 96.7 Phoenix FM as they were coming back full time and they are still going despite it being a community radio station.

I'd suggest that if anyone else wants to retune, retune to another station if you can through a standard issue radio or through Tune In.

 

[bicbasher]

Real Radio was ok a few years back, then it started playing stuff you'd hear on Capital FM. Only ever liked the 80s 'High School Days programme.

With all the re-brands we've seen in the transport industry, it doesn't surprise me that commercial radio is taking the same stance with Heart and Capital being the Arriva, Stagecoach/Go-Ahead of the radio dial.

In the same way most people use public transport regardless of brand, it's the same with these radio stations, regardless of the quality of the product.

 

[NorthernSpirit]

Real Radio was ok a few years back, then it started playing stuff you'd hear on Capital FM. Only ever liked the 80s 'High School Days programme.

With all the re-brands we've seen in the transport industry, it doesn't surprise me that commercial radio is taking the same stance with Heart and Capital being the Arriva, Stagecoach/Go-Ahead of the radio dial.

In the same way most people use public transport regardless of brand, it's the same with these radio stations, regardless of the quality of the product.

I know the presenter who presents a syndicated radio show called 'Nothing But The Nineties' you could tune into that as a sort of replacement for the soon to be axed High School Days. As once we get Heart, HSD won't be on it it'll be the automated All 80's All Night.

 

[heart-of-wessex]

Blimey, the invasion is still going on! I remember the sad day when I tuned in to GWR (Great Western Radio) to find that Heart FM had annihilated the GWR brand

It's only played on my radio alarm clock when the alarm goes off. I have tuned in before but, as mentioned, the playlist gets repetitive.

When I can, I open up Asda FM, probably has the biggest playlist!

 

[overthewater]

I know the presenter who presents a syndicated radio show called 'Nothing But The Nineties' you could tune into that as a sort of replacement for the soon to be axed High School Days. As once we get Heart, HSD won't be on it it'll be the automated All 80's All Night.

Thats no replacement for HSD.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Whatever style Real Radio is broadcasting at the moment, its the style that is the same of Heart = unlistenable. Even a couple of my mates have noticed on how bad its got and have recently retuned to the same stations as myself....

Real XS in Manchester is a 'rock' station (was Rock Radio), I doubt it is anything like Heart.

 

[radamfi]

The real villain here is Ofcom, which has followed a policy of 'light touch regulation', which has meant that the big radio groups have been allowed to create quasi-national stations by buying a large number of previously local stations.

 

[Kite159]

The real villain here is Ofcom, which has followed a policy of 'light touch regulation', which has meant that the big radio groups have been allowed to create quasi-national stations by buying a large number of previously local stations.

It's getting a bit like the USA's radio, where the majority of stations are owned by a small handful of companies.

------

I mainly listen to Spire FM (local radio in Salisbury) or Jack FM, with Absolute radio coming on around Basingstoke if I have to drive to Aldershot for work.

 

[Class172]

In Birmingham, we lost the iconic BRMB name to Free Radio, what a crappy name that is. We already have a Heart FM and we already lost Galaxy to the Global Radio owned Capital brand

I have to agree, we used to also have Wyvern FM, which reflected the local area: the new Free Radio branding is rubbish (why call the radio free to start with?). I used to listen to both Wyvern and BRMB since they broadcasted different things, however now the two stations are almost identical when you switch between the two.

 

[Blindtraveler]

I know the presenter who presents a syndicated radio show called 'Nothing But The Nineties' you could tune into that as a sort of replacement for the soon to be axed High School Days. As once we get Heart, HSD won't be on it it'll be the automated All 80's All Night.

Really? You know Mike Brown? Is he a nice bloke? He sounds it!

Well done to the poster who said they listen to there full time communitty radio stations, theres a lot of us about you know! Talking of sindicated shows on communitty Stations, Big Fat Party Anthems with Big Tommy, a good friend of mine, is a good show too!↲

 

[NorthernSpirit]

Really? You know Mike Brown? Is he a nice bloke? He sounds it!

Well done to the poster who said they listen to there full time community radio station, there's a lot of us about you know! Talking of syndicated shows on community stations, Big Fat Party Anthems with Big Tommy, a good friend of mine, is a good show too!

Oh aye, I know Mike Brown through a couple of me mates and yes it is a nice bloke. He used to be on 105.3 Seaside FM at one point before that closed in 2012, whether its come back or not I don't know. My older brother has met the Hacienda Ledgend that is Graeme Park and also Chris Moyles too, both of which are decent blokes too.

---

Speaking of Free Radio, their colour scheme seems to be inspired by the likes of London Midland the two tone green and white (at one time FR's logo use to have a black frog thing to the right of the o in radio), Media Sound Holdings who own Splash FM in Worthing and Bright FM in Burgess Hill are pretty dire too. Spirit FM in Chichester are ok as they are local but its still has that 'commercial' sound to it.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Real XS in Manchester is a 'rock' station (was Rock Radio), I doubt it is anything like Heart.

Oh, I wasn't including XS, just the standard Real Radio stations.

 

[Phil6219]

Not exactly unexpected as a longtime listener to Rock Radio - sorry Real Radio XS (whatever) the quality of the station has plummeted and rather infuriatingly Smooth Radio gets a bigger boost.

A couple of years ago the station moved over to DAB and as they alleged their name was too similar to Rock FM (which doesn't actually play bloody rock) they changed to the XS format, they've been off DAB for several months now and have avoided changing the name back and likewise have seem to be doing less network programming with their Newcastle and Glasgow counterparts. Not to mention how many presenters have left over the last 2 years, the entire line up of original staff went with the final one going last month however one has since returned but what does that say about the station.

The playlist has gotten worse, much worse than playing Nickleback but now they rarely play something along the lines of Rammstein, Megadeth or even the more obscure tracks by well known artists in favour of more Bon Jovi (eurgh), Nickleback and the almost boy-band types.

When we had to listen to Real Radio for a short while (3 weeks or so) it wasn't too bad as every 3rd tune would be something older, usually an 80s one but it was irritating as hell to hear the same Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, One Direction, Jay Z and the like songs repeated every 90 minutes...

At home I listen to Absolute 80s on my DAB, the only downside is the breakfast show is simulcast with their 90s and contemporary station.

That's not to mention the Rock Radio sticker we've got stuck in the cab window of 50015

Phil

 

[NorthernSpirit]

The name Rock FM is ment to be based on sticks of the stuff bought in nearby Blackpool who incidently have their own station called 95.6 Radio Wave. A former girlfriend of mine actually thought Rock FM played rock music as it had rock in the title until I told her that Bauer, who owns the station, does have a rock station and its called Kerrang sadly we couldn't get it on FM in Yorkshire as the station is based in the West Midlands.

Phil6219, you are bang on the money that Real Radio can be irritating at times with their narrow playlisting of the same Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, One Direction, Jay Z and other songs repeated every 90 minutes. It will get worse when Heart comes along as they too will play the same rubbish but more frequently and mixed in with a load of ads just to fill airtime. When Andi Durrant (the last sole presenter of the Galaxy Weekend) decided to jack it in at Capital 105 in August 2013, a mate of mine who use to listen to it stopped listening to Capital altogether and instead started to listen to one of our other mates radio show instead despite it being on a community radio station in Lincolnshire, its a good listen.

 

[Blindtraveler]

for the diverse amongst you - Haddington and the county of East Lothians Communitty FM Station, do seriusly give it a listen, we have the comercials in the area worried
http://www.eastcoastfm.co.uk

 

[NorthernSpirit]

For those who currently listen to Real and are refusing outright to listen to Heart (and I don't blame you) there is...

In Lincolnshire, you could always try Tulip: http://www.tulip-radio.co.uk/schedule.php

In Calderdale, you could try Phoenix: http://http://www.phoenixfm.co.uk/
(some shows shown may not be aired anymore but are kept as they may return in the future).

In Cambridge, you could try Cambridge 105: http://http://cambridge105.fm/schedule/

In Chorley, you could try 102.8 Chorley FM: http://http://www.chorley.fm/schedule/

In Knowsley, you could try 99.8 KCC Live: http://www.kcclive.com/

Finally, in Rotherham you could try 102.4 Redroad FM: http://http://www.redroadmusic.com/index.php/home-2

So longs you have a replacement station to listen to then you have at least some music. Most stations programming will finish at midnight before going into automation, however some stations will finish at 2am before heading into automation and some may even repeat certain programmes through the night.

 

[Blindtraveler]

I have listened to all of these at some time or other and they are excillent stations. personally when in a Heart area I quite enjoy it as I find in comparison to Real, in Scotland at least there playlists are better, more varied and the real format, again mainly referring to Scotland has become very, very stale!

 

[rich.davies]

In north wales, Real Radio Wales Frequency's are changing to Heart Wales & the current Heart Wales frequency's are changing to A new Capital Radio Wales. Be interesting to see how that works out.

 

[NorthernSpirit]

Well, as of today Real Radio is no more. Its now 'The Heart of... Real Radio.

http://radiotoday.co.uk/2014/03/real-radio-starts-heart-transformation

 

[Kite159]

Which will become "Heart" fully by the end of the summer with any references to Real Radio heading the way of the dustbin

 

[Tracked]

My local radio station http://www.sinefm.com/ have had their broadcasting license extended recently, they have a few good shows on there

http://amazingradio.com/ are good for new/unsigned bands